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MEP DEMANDS DRASTIC ACTION TO REMEDY DAMAGE CAUSED TO THE NATION BY NORWAY IMPORTING TRANSMITTERS FOR SEPARATIST LTTE
By Walter Jayawardhana reporting from Los Angeles The Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) constituent party of the opposition People’s Alliance demanded immediate and drastic action to remedy the damage caused to the national interests of the people and the country’s security by Norway’s importation of high powered radio transmission equipment to aid separatism in Sri Lanka. In a statement signed by the party’s leader Dinesh Gunawardena M.P. the MEP said the entire episode of handing over radio transmitters to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was a serious violation of the laws of the land and the diplomatic norms by Norway and should be dealt with severely by the President. . Critics in Colombo said the MEP statement came at a time when the President of the country was seriously contemplating about taking some drastic step regarding the most serious violation of accepted diplomatic norms done so far since the country’s independence by any foreign nation. The statement said, “Allowing the LTTE to operate a private radio station has serious implications in the defense network and the security of the state. It is material to note at this stage that the LTTE has not laid down arms nor accepted democratic process nor acknowledged human rights nor the sovereignty of the state of Sri Lanka.” The statement made emphasis on the fact by stating, “We further state that this action on the part of the government (of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe) will undoubtedly will have adverse effect on India, our closest neighbor also on the region.” In view of the seriousness of this matter, the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna appealed to the President as the head of state of Sri Lanka to take immediate remedial measures in the interest of the security of the people and that of the state of Sri Lanka. In the statement issued in Colombo, December 20 the Sri Lankan opposition party, MEP said the party viewed with great concern the questionable manner in which sealed container loads of 6 ton of equipment to set up a powerful radio station had been sent to the Vanni. The party said, “It is a fact that this equipment had arrived in Colombo consigned to the Royal Norwegian embassy and thereafter handed over to”, separatist terrorist group, “the LTTE.” Particularly in the context where Norway is asserting the role of “neutral” facilitator, the propriety of handing over equipment of such nature to the LTTE is in question, the opposition party charged. Pointing out that the custom duty had been waived since it was consigned to the Norwegian Embassy, enjoying diplomatic privileges Dinesh Gunawardena the party leader said, “However, this duty waiver cannot attach to these equipment once they are in the hands of another party, namely the LTTE.” Alleging that the Minister of Media and Telecommunication had granted approval through the Ministry Secretary to the LTTE to operate and maintain a private radio station now, Gunawardena also pointed out the Director Customs had granted a duty waiver to the radio equipment when it arrived in Colombo Port on the basis of the property of the Royal Norwegian Embassy. The foreign ministry had recommended embassy for this. The statement further said that the Secretary Ministry of Defense having got this equipment examined by a team of officials in Colombo thereafter had ensured police escort through the IGP to take this equipment to Omanthai passing through the last army checkpoint. The MEP charged the whole procedure step by step was immoral, unlawful and uncalled for both by the government of Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Colombo. (EOM) (22/12/02 go2lanka.com) |